MiR-370 promotes cell death of liver cancer cells by Akt/FoxO3a signalling pathway

G. Sun, Y.-B. Hou, H.-Y. Jia, X.-H. Bi, L. Yu, D.-J. Chen

Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. chendejihope@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs have emerged as key regulators in cancer cell biology. In the present study, we investigate the role and the involving mechanism of miR-370 in the progression of liver cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: MiR-370 levels were detected by real-time PCR assay. Cell proliferation of HepG2, MHCC-97H and SMMC-7721 was determined by MTT assay. PI staining was detected by FACS analysis. Colony formation was used to test liver cancer cell growth. FoxO3a and Akt expression was determined by western blotting analysis.

RESULTS: MiR-370 level was significantly down-regulated in liver cancer cells. Functional analysis revealed that miR-370 mimics suppressed cell proliferation of liver cancer cells, while transfection with miR-370 inhibitor increased cell proliferation of liver cancer cells. Moreover, miR-370 mimics induced cell death of HepG2. Furthermore, Western blotting analysis results demonstrated that miR-370 inhibited the proliferation of liver cancer cells by activating FoxO3a.

CONCLUSIONS: MiR-370 inhibited cell proliferation of liver cancer cells by PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. It worked as a tumor suppressor to suppress the progression of human liver cancers.

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